ginia and Indiana,
and west to eastern Texas; winters in Mexico and the West Indies.

This species is brownish above and white below, with a whitish
superciliary stripe. It has been found breeding most numerously in
thickets and tangled underbush about swamps and pools in any locality.
Their nests are either in bushes or attached to upright rushes over
water after the manner of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, being made of
leaves, moss, rootlets, etc., lined with fine grasses or hair, and
deeply cupped for the reception of the three or four unmarked white or
bluish white eggs which are laid during May or June. Size .75 x .58.
Data.--Near Charlestown, S. C., May 12, 1888, 3 eggs. Nest in canes 4
feet from ground, made of strips of rushes, sweet gum and water oak
leaves, lined with pine needles.

639. WORM-EATING WARBLER. _Helmitheros vermivorus._

Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding north to southern New
England and Illinois; winters south of our borders.

This bird can be identified in all plumages by the three light buff and
two black stripes on the crown and narrower black stripes through the
eye. Their habits are similar to those of the Oven-bird, they

[Illustration 388: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: Prothonotary Warbler.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Swainson's Warbler. Worm-eating Warbler.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 387

feeding largely upon the ground amid dead leaves. They are quite
abundant in most localities in their range, nesting in hollows on the
ground in open woods or shrubbery on hill sides; the nest is made of
leaves, grasses and rootlets, lined with hair or finer grasses, and is
usually placed under the shelter of some small bush. They lay (in May,
June or July) three to six eggs, white, marked or blotched either
sparingly or heavily with chestnut or lavender. Size .70 x .52.

640. BACHMAN'S WARBLER. _Vermivora bachmani._

Range.--Southeastern United States, along the Gulf coast to Louisiana
and north to Virginia and Missouri.

This species is one of the rarest of the Warblers, but is now much more
abundant than twenty years ago, when it had apparently disappeared. They
are greenish above, and yellow below, and on the forehead and shoulder,
and with black patches on the crown and breast. They have been found
breeding in Missouri, nesting on the ground like others of this genus;
the eggs are white wreathed about the large